PLANE, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES ISLAND BATIK BLOG HOP AND GIVEAWAY!

Thanks Katie for allowing me to be a part of this Island Batik Blog Hop but most importantly for the wonderful fabrics.

Look to my side bar for the blogs that are participating and do visit past blogs, you will not be disappointed!

Today I am using

As mentioned before, I love to do applique with Island Batik Fabrics because you can blend them, they do not fray as easily or stretch. I tend to get precise cuts and it makes the sewing go so much smoother.

I started this project months ago. This project has moved from desk, to cutting table, to longarm table, so I guess you can say that it is very well traveled in my sewing room.

For weeks it sat on my longarm which you see as you enter and leave my sewing room.

Several people have commented on it and a few have watched it's progress.

Those who have read my blog in the past know that I have spent three years in Amerika Samoa. I would say that those three years were three of the best years of my life...wonderful friends and beautiful island.
My husband and I have traveled to and from with the stopping point being Hawaii. In fact, we lived in Hawaii for three years early in our marriage.

I have often said that I was born to the wrong family, my real family is on an island somewhere. You know I can still hear the waves. Is that bad?

I have been wanting to make an "island quilt" for some time now and so here it is.

My husband will be found staring at it. He says every time he looks at it he sees something new.

The Sun is paper pieced with a Caribbean Splash yellow for the Sun and a variety of other Island Batik yellows for the rays.

The rest of the wall hanging is blanket stitched.

If you look careful you will find a gecko at the top of the sand on the left hand side.

and bottom of the sand on the right hand side. Not only do you see the gecko by Island Batik's name but geckos are everywhere on the islands...and sometimes where you least expect them. Have some funny stories but that will have to wait.

I made these gecko's by drawing on tracing paper and then placing it on top of the quilt and stitching over my drawn design.

Gene Black mentioned on my blog one time when I used tissue paper... "May I suggest some wash away stabilizer (typically used for machine embroidery) to draw on and use like you did the tissue paper. I think it would be easier to use."

Then someone suggested that it was a sticky mess doing it this way. I do not know, I have not tried it but wish I had remembered so I could have.

The tracing paper was much better than tissue paper (for gifts), the tissue paper left little tiny specks of tissue and was hard to get off.

So I am giving away this little Zip Pouch and three Sea Salt Sandy fat quarters...I know, you only see two...I am whining now......because I can't decide what the third one will be. It is hard enough to give away these two..but trust me, there will be three fat quarters.

85 comments:

I don't have just one favorite place. Hawaii is nice, National Parks are nice, etc. Often my favorite place to visit is where my family is -- especially my son who grew up and moved 900 miles away! Love your island scene!

A wonderful quilt! I love the sunrise! Great palms and water and sand and your quilting is perfect! I love batiks too. They are such a dream to sew with. Anywhere that there are large bodies of water is where I like to be.

your wall hanging is just wonderful. i love that you added the geckos. so cute. thanks for sharing about the tracing paper. thanks for the give a way. the pouch is so cute. i love to visit where there is family or friends. if it is just my husband and myself, someplace that is warm and sunny and quiet.quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

your wall hanging is just wonderful. i love that you added the geckos. so cute. thanks for sharing about the tracing paper. thanks for the give a way. the pouch is so cute. i love to visit where there is family or friends. if it is just my husband and myself, someplace that is warm and sunny and quiet.quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

Favorite place to visit? That is a real hard question, because there are so many great places to travel to. For quick getaways, our family goes to Holland, Michigan or Petoskey, Michigan. One of my favorite places was the Canadian Rockies. Your little quilt is sweet! And the zip pouch is a really nice giveaway! Thank you! warner.dale@gmail.com

You are so talented! I can see why you'd miss island life. We went on two cruises, and visiting Grand Caymon was incredible. I still want to go on more cruises because you can see several places within a week or so.

Quite delightful! We are kindred spirits. I am also misplaced. Yes, I live on an island, but it isn't warm there! I'm supposed to be on an island that's hot year round! As a matter of fact, I was thinking about it when I was taking my morning walk today. XO

Your quilt is so cute and makes me want to go to a warm and sunny place. I have never been to Hawaii but I would love to go there.However, my favorite place to visit is the mountains. Thank you for the giveaway.

Love Alaska, Hawaii and Spain but we have a trailer 20 miles from our home where we can see Zion Natl Park and hear the wind blowing through the pines. My heart is at peace there. Love your quilt. Thanks

I think my real family is on an island too! Or at least on a coastline. My favorite place to visit is the Central coast of California. I live in Wisconsin but I married someone from the central coast so we go often to visit his family. (He has other good qualities too, besides the trips to California). Thanks for sharing your lovely quilt and thanks for the delightful giveaway.

It's wonderful that you can still hear the waves; I'll bet that your island quilt brings back memories, too. We like to bike so anyplace where there are good biking trails are perfect for my husband and I.

I love to go visit my Daughter in North Carolina! Have only been there 3 times, but LOVE going. Saw the Ocean for the first time there! Beautiful water & beaches & sunshine! :) Planning to visit her this Summer!! YAY!

Thank you for chance to win your Awesome Give-a-way too! Would LOOOOVE that lil' pouch!! :)

One of my favorite places to visit is NYC to visit museums and wander around the garment district. I also love the St. Pete Beach area as that is where I grew up! To quilt around a design, I like to trace it on freezer paper then iron it on the quilt - removes easily and can be reused. Thanks for the chance to win the cute pouch. mfhagopian@aol.com

Love your island quilt. My favourite place to visit (apart from any quilt shop!) is New Zealand - my brother and niece and nephew and their families live there. Love the country - such a variety from mountains to beaches. Paulineperry94022 at hotmail dot com

I enjoy seeing more of my country Canada. It is interesting to visit the Maritime to the Rockies with so many kind people.pi am proud to say I have been to all ten provinces. An adventure to the territories is on my bucket list. Thank you for a chance to win . Happy Quilting :)

I am loving reading your blog this morning it is so inspiring and relaxing. I love to visit so many places but if I could go back to Ireland I would be so happy and the next choice would Holland. The beautiful countryside was so inspiring to me. Thanks for sharing your talent. Hugs, Marie